OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2: What’s the difference?

OnePlus has just announced an upgrade to its OnePlus 3 smartphone. The new device, called the OnePlus 3T, is arriving in stores at the end of November, offering a little more power and battery capacity than the current model.

This is how the OnePlus 3T compares to this year's OnePlus 3 and last year's OnePlus 2.

OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2: Design

OnePlus 3 slimmer and lighter than OnePlus 2

OnePlus 3T offers same design as OnePlus 3

The OnePlus 2 measures 151.8 x 74.9 x 9.85mm, weighs 175g and it comes in Sandstone Black. It isn't the slimmest or lightest device out there, but it offers a fantastic build quality, even if it isn't entirely metal.

The OnePlus 3 is around the same size as the OnePlus 2, albeit slimmer and lighter and with an anodised aluminium alloy build. It measures 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35mm, hits the scales at 158g and comes in Graphite and Champagne Gold colour options.

The OnePlus 3T offers the same design as the OnePlus 3, with the same measurements, along with a front-mounted fingerprint sensor and USB Type-C port like the OnePlus 2 and OnePlus 3. The Gunmetal grey differs slightly from the OnePlus 3's Graphite finish.

OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2: Display

The OnePlus 2 has a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a Full HD resolution for a pixel density of 401ppi. There is ample brightness, good viewing angles and decent contrast offered.

The OnePlus 3 also has a 5.5-inch display with a Full HD resolution, meaning the same pixel density as last year's model. The display technology switches to Optic AMOLED though for much richer, deeper colours and inky blacks.

OnePlus 3T offers the same display, resolution and technology as the OnePlus 3, including Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection, meaning just a difference in the technology compared to the OnePlus 2. That difference is notable though, with the colours and contrast significantly better than on the OnePlus 2.

OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2: Hardware

OnePlus 2 features SD810, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 3300mAh battery

OnePlus 3 features SD820, 6GB RAM, 64GB storage, 3000mAh battery

OnePlus 3T features SD821, 6GB RAM, 64GB storage, 3400mAh battery

The OnePlus 2 features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, Adreno 430 graphics, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There is a 3300mAh battery powering the device, which as we mentioned, is charged via USB Type-C.

The OnePlus 3 opts for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, Adreno 530 graphics, 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The battery capacity sits at 3000mAh, meaning it is smaller than the previous model, but it supports Dash Charge, which is similar to Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 for a quick top up when you're running low.

The OnePlus 3T comes with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 chip, which is an enhanced version of the SD820, resulting in a faster and more efficient device that should be more capable, especially when it comes to virtual reality. It also comes with a beefier battery. At 3400mAh, it's got 14 per cent more battery juice than its predecessor.

OnePlus 3T retains the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage options of the OnePlus 3, but offers a more capacious 128GB option too, which could be very useful, especially since there's no expandable storage.

The OnePlus 3 offers NFC, meaning support for Android Pay, something the OnePlus 2 missed off its spec sheet. As you might expect, the OnePlus 3T is also supports NFC.

OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2: Camera

The OnePlus 2 has a 13-megapixel rear camera with an aperture of f/2.0 and optical image stabilisation, delivering excellent image quality. The front camera has a 5-megapixel sensor.

Resolution is bumped up for the OnePlus 3 with a 16-megapixel rear snapper, again offering an aperture of f/2.0 and OIS, with phase detection autofocus also included and 4K video recording capture. The front-facing camera is 8-megapixels with 1.4µm pixels and fixed autofocus.

The OnePlus 3T offers mostly the same camera specifications as the OnePlus 3, which means features such as Auto HDR and manual control, along with good results in varying light levels. One important difference is the EIS (electronic image stabilsation) improvement, which kicks in during video recording to ensure much smoother movement.

Interestingly, OnePlus also boosted the front camera to a 16-megapixel sensor. For low light selfies, it can bind pixels together, effectively creating fewer, bigger pixels to capture more light and colour.

OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2: Software

OnePlus 2 and OnePlus 3 now run on modified version of Android Marshmallow

OnePlus 3T features a newer, slighly refined version of OxygenOS

The OnePlus 2 launched on a customised version of Android Lollipop, while the OnePlus 3 arrived on a customised version of Android Marshmallow. As the OnePlus 2 has been updated to Marshmallow, the experience between the OnePlus 2 and the OnePlus 3 should now be very similar.

As for the OnePlus 3T, it launches on the OxygenOS again, like its predecessors, and although Android Nougat is now available, the company opted to load it with Marshmallow rather than Nougat from the box. Still, the new version of OxygenOS comes with a tidied Shelf, uniform app icon sizes, new apps and enhanced doze mode for better battery performance.

OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2: Price

OnePlus 2 is cheaper than OnePlus 3 by £80

OnePlus 3T costs £399, that's £70 more than OnePlus 3

The OnePlus 2 costs £249, while the OnePlus 3 will set you back £329.

The OnePlus 3T will be £70 more than the OnePlus 3 when it's available to buy from 28 November in the UK. The mainland European launch will take place on the same day with a €439 price tag while it launches in the US from 22 November and will ship with a price of $439.

All-in-all that means OnePlus now has three great phones with a £70-£80 price difference between each tier.

OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2: Conclusion

Generally speaking, a succeeding smartphone will always make improvements on its predecessor in a couple of areas, whether that be camera, processor, design or battery. The OnePlus 3 did exactly that over the OnePlus 2, delivering a more premium design and advancements in power and camera.

The OnePlus 3T does similar to the OnePlus 3, but only in terms of power, battery and front-facing camera rather in design or other specifications, making it an incremental upgrade.

The only reason to buy the OnePlus 3T over the OnePlus 3 is for the extra speed and battery life, with everything else pretty much remaining the same. Therefore, if you have a OnePlus 2 and you're considering an upgrade, hold fire for the OnePlus 3T. Those with a OnePlus 3, sit tight and wait for the OnePlus 4 unless you really want the power upgrade.